The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-11-20
RACHEL.
BY CAROLINE D. VI. RICH.

one summer afternoon. She was so
intent on some purpose that she nearly
stumbled against me before being aware
of my presence. Stopping suddenly, as
she saw me, she would have retreated.
Bat spoke to her asking her to sit by
me.
| won't do that" she said, ~ know
betteE. Yon will laugh at my old
clothes. You city folks don't like poor
folks, you bet."
She stood irresolute as she answered
me. So again asked her to sit down,
making room on the knoll by my side.
What is your name, my little girl p
l asked.
Rachel Brown, Mis-, but they call
me Ray"
We'll, Rachel, why do you come out
here all alone2"
What do you come out here for ?"
she asked bIuntly.
1.-The woods are full of flowers and
birds. and this little brook sings must
calIy as it dashes over rocks and
pIunges down into the ravine on its way
to the ocean. like to come here and
sit under these grand old trees and
enioy it ALL" I said, watching the
effect of my words upon her.
well, didn't come here tor that
sort Of thing" she said a little abashed.
~ came to see the train come home
with the school. l wish something
would happen. do"
"Why, Rachel! Do you know what
your wish means2"
well. I wish something would hap
pen to me then, for / don't have any
good time. At home, old Mrs. Brown
scoIds me-and sometimes beats and
staryes me, too, and at school they pick
on me and call me names. l do wish
something would happen somewhere,
1 dol"
Isn't Mrs. Brown your mother"
mo, she amt. She took me, she
says, when my mother died and my
father went to Californy, and she don't
knew where he is. So she makes me
work to earn my Twin md don't know
what want to live for, anyway.
Twill you tell me your father s name,
Rachel, and perhaps can find out
where he is7"
Ray looked up with CLEAN of hungry
hope in her deep-blue eyes that be-
trayed an imprisoned spirit yearning
for release. l resolved to do my best
for her, and save her from the wretched
life with Mrs. Brown. -.
II don't know what his name Is, J"
she went on. Il guess it is Jim Adams.
If should ask her she wouldn't tell
me. But she calls him Jim, and l
know my name is Adams, cause I've
books that have my own name. Rachel
Adams, in 'em, and | had 'em fore my
mother died, and [ guess that all l
know, anyway"
"Well, Rachel. keep on going to
school, and do the best you can at home
for Mrs. Brown, and I'll see what can
be done for you"
That's Just what I sh'ant do, Mis-.
I've made up my mind this morning
not to go to school, but l do want to
learn dreadful"
This last was said with a great sob
that the girl was evidently ashamed of,
for she burst into an immoderate laugh,
while real tears were on her eyelashes.
She was about to spring away but
restrained her.
why do you resolve to leave school,
Rschel?"
"iCause they treat me worse'n Mis-
Brown; for they hsint no right to call
me names, nd tell lies about me to
cover their own doings. They put
mice in the mistress bonnet, and bur
docks on her shawl, or nettles in her
gloves, md then they make b1ieVe that
done it," and Ray actually looked the
scorn she felt. / could see she had q
mind far above her surroundings, but l
hardly knew what to say to her. She
began again to give reasons for leaving
school: They've all gone to the
Neck TO picnic to-day, md not one
Oh 'em asked me to go, teacher nor
nobody, / hung round Till l heard
some one on 'em say, L guess that
scarecrow thinks she's going md l
come now to see 'em come back. 1T
amt their school more n mine, anyway,
and they didn't buy their clothes more n
did mine. It's only they have fathers
and l haint."
Her face now glowed with passion
We sat in silence short time, when
suddenly Rachel gave cry, and sprsng
up. heard the sound also, and look
ing up the hill, we saw slide moving,
down. mass OF rocks, shrubs, earth
and twisted roots, crashing on, on, then
Will IoV6fOSIdGluS cCuO, IL l6u over
a cliff and was out of our sight.
We both started to see where it fell.
But the little frieudless waif was out OF
sight before / reached the spot. |
gazed horrorstruck, for at the foot of
the hill lay a narrow-gauge- railroad
track, like thread. nearly filling the
space between the brook and the pre-
cipice over which the debris had fallen.
The train was now due. Indeed at this
moment 1 could hear its shrill whistle
miles away, at a crossing, advancing
with its precious freight to swift de
struction. 1 stood paralyzed. Butt
Rachel was running like deer, Ieaping
bitches and plunging under the brush |
with cry that echoed among the hills |
as if the fierce spirits were calling to
each other.
On she went, until the engineer saw
her and began to slacken the speed by |
reversed engine and brakes down.
still it seemed to me that she was rush |
ing iRto the jaws of death. When she
saw the signal of success she turned |
and ran back, but in her bewilderment
kept on the track. At length the train |
stopped with the COW catcher only few |
feet from the girl.
A the naODle crowdad from the train !